Wine Club: Dessert & Wine Pairing?

It's the time of the year once again to start planning that Valentine's Day Dinner. What more appropriate to discuss at Wine Club than, Dessert & Wine Pairing!The desserts for tonight were provided by the CIA's very own "Baking & Pastry." The delicacies included (left to right, top row first): Dried fruit (fig, apricot, cherries), Pecan Cake, Chocolate Souffle cake, Chantilly Cream, Lemon Pound Cake, Peach Cobbler, and Something-Really Good Cake without a name.

Other sweet accompaniments included grilled pineapple, Maldon salt, caramel, orange segments, berry coulis, and candied orange rind. Not to be left out of the sweet wine pairing, two cheeses were included, Abbaye du Belloc (sheep cheese) and a St. Agur (blue cheese).

Now let's talk about the wines (left to right):

1. Robert Mondavi Moscato D'oro, 2006 Napa Valley: a very floral, citrusy sweet wine but isn't syrupy. Suggestions for dessert pairings run across the board, but I found the Lemon Pound Cake to match the character of the wine flawlessly!

2. Quady Elysium 2007, California Black Muscat: incredible nose of red raspberry, stone fruits, and a perfume similar to a fresh rose. This wine was very interesting and surprisingly drinkable. Hands down match with the raspberry coulis.

3. Carmes de Riussec Sauterness 2004: SAUTERNESS!!! What more can you say? I love these little Bordeux-esque wines. It was very versatile with the desserts. The peach cobbler, caramel sauce, and candied orange all were good matches. The best match for me was the Chocolate Souffle Cake topped with the Chantilly cream. Maybe even add a little caramel topping to finish it off!

4. Pedro Ximenez Hartley & Gibson. Jerez, Spain, Sherry: Either you love of hate Sherry. Their is not much middle ground with this fortified wine. I tend to dislike them a little as the high alcohol content makes them a little harsh on my palate. Other than the caramel sauce, I thought the Abbaye du Belloc cheese was the winner with this wine.

5. Graham Late Bottled Vintage Porto 2003: Port is the king of dessert wines. It matches almost everything, if you like port. Sweet berries, dark spices, mocha, chocolate. And once again, especially caramel!

6. Blandy's 10 Year Malmsey Madeira: Very unique taste that conquered the pungentness of the blue cheese and was a great match with the grilled pineapple............that was drizzled with caramel!

So, the moral of the dessert and wine pairing story is..........enjoy either your chocolate-based, fruit-based, or ice cream dessert with a little bit of caramel on top for a pleasurable, and sweet end to your meal.

The Risks of Culinary School!

***Warning*** Don't read this blog with your morning breakfast!
The best thing I can say about this, is that I keep my knives sharp. Sometimes that is a detriment to myself as my fingernail can attest.

A Brown Roux is the equivalent of molten lava. Get it on your skin, and your skin will grow one of these. I am sure more incidents will be reported in the future.

Gardening 101!

Gardening is by no means my forte, but a recent greenthumb moment has led to the successful birth of these aspiring lettuces. Here you will find an immature baby arugula as it sprouts toward the sun which gives it life.

And here is a baby bib lettuce stretching his young arms out of the soil and into the fresh CO2 of the valley air. These little guys have inspired me to plant an entire herb garden filled with Parsley, Basil, and Cilantro and even a couple tomato and potato plants. I can't wait to report about how good all of these taste in the coming months.

Restaurant Review: Martini House!

The Martini House is nestled right off of main street in St.Helena, CA. It's reputation spreads all the way to my great home state of Arkansas, and pretty much everywhere else in-between. Why might one choose such a nice restaurant for a casual dinner date on a Saturday night? Perhaps for a celebration of sorts?

The ambiance of the restaurant is a little dark, giving it that feel of high-end dining, but in an atmosphere that is highly welcoming. The circa-1920's architecture of the building is a key design element of this Pat Kueleto owned restaurant. Is that some World's of Healthy Flavor attendees I spy? Sure enough it is. Welcome to the economic stimulus impact of The Culinary Institute of America on the Valley economy. The signature appetizer of Martini House is the house Cream of Mushroom Soup with Toasted Croutons and Chives. Chef Todd Humphries has made his name with the use of the infamous, yet delicate and complex mushroom. Being known for his use of mushrooms, I was more than happy to try out the Mushroom Tasting Menu. Thanks go out to Chef de Cuisine Christopher Litts for tantalizing our palates with the above amuse bouche's. His wife is actually the executive chef at the WineSpectator Restaurant at Greystone. Busy Couple!

1st Course: "Pleurotus Eryngii" King Trumpet Mushroom Salad with Shaved Celery, Radish, and Ricotta Salata Truffle Vinaigrette. Enjoy with a Casamatta Bianco, Toscana, I.G.T. Italy, 2007 (90% Vermentino/10% Moscato)

2nd Course: "Lentinus Edodes" Ginger Braised Shitake Mushrooms with Pomelo Sake Mirin Broth, Scallions, and Bok Choy with Steamed Basmati Rice. Tasty with a Gobelsburg ‘heiligenstein' Riesling, Langenlois, Austria, 2006. My motherland does produce a great wine!

Chef's Compliments: Sautéed Nantucket Bay Scallops with Sautéed Winter Mushrooms, Sunchokes and Saffron Gnocchi with Hollandaise Sauce.
Entree Course: “Agaricus bisporus” Portobello Mushroom Burger with Cole Slaw, Tater Todd's and Poppy Seed Mayonnaise. Washed down with Hourglass ‘Blueline' Merlot, Napa Valley, California, 2006.
I don't know what fast food chain uses this slogan, but it is all too true for this burger. "Goodness on a Bun!"

Entree Course: Red Wine Braised Beef Oxtail and Spinach Raviolis with Buttered Rutabaga Puree, Black Trumpet Mushrooms and Parmesan Cheese. Delightful with a Ristow Estate ‘Quinta de la Pedras Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 1999

Pastry Chef Jennifer Archer's Compliments: A delightful play on Cookies and Cream, in a glass of sugar.

“Lactarius rubidus” Candy Cap Bread Pudding with Currants and Golden Raisins topped with Maple Sugar Anglaise. Sweet with your sweets, try the Monte Tondo, Recioto, Soave, Italy, 2003 (Late Harvest Garganega).

Oh yeah, it just so happens to be the Mrs. and I's anniversary of our engagement (not really for sure if this is celebrated or not by the common public?). A year ago, Kristen and I got engaged, and that night we had dinner with Mike and Jacque Martini. Better known as the Martini's house. Now that we are celebrating our anniversary, it is only appropriate that we dine at, you guessed it, the Martini House. Clever, ridiculous, or just plain coincidence. Maybe a bit of all three.
What a year it has been! I would have never dreamed that we would have done some much in 365 days. Let's recount:

1: Visit the CIA Open House in January 2008. Subsequently, Get Engaged!

2. Scott defends M.S. Thesis and passes! Turns in Thesis day before departure.

2. Scott leaves Kristen stranded in America to plan a wedding as he studies abroad in Toulouse, France for 5 months.

3. Kristen graduates from the UofA with her MBA in May. Scott graduates with his M.S. in May and celebrates from France.

4. Kristen comes to visit Scott and a 3-week tour of Europe proceeds. The future Walnofer's meet the original Walnofer's in Austria.

5. We see the Tour de France in person on one of the most famous climbs in all of Tour history.
6. Couple returns to America, only to spend 3-days pulling a UHaul all the way to Napa Valley California.

7. Guests arrive days after bride and groom-to-be and all celebrate a joyous wedding ceremony.

8. Guests hang out and go to San Francisco. Honeymooners cross the 2nd ocean that month and hang out in Hawaii for a week.

9. Old married couple returns to Calistoga and Scott starts school one week later. Kristen finds great job working for a winery 1 mile from our home.

10. Couple lives happily ever after.

The End...........I mean The Beginning!

I still miss France :(

Castle in Castelnou, France or Castello di Amorosa in St. Helena, California?Castle in Castelnou, France or Castello di Amorosa in St. Helena, California?

Castle in Castelnou, France or Castello di Amorosa in St. Helena, California?Castle in Castelnou, France or Castello di Amorosa in St. Helena, California?

Castle in Castelnou, France or Castello di Amorosa in St. Helena, California?Castle in Castelnou, France or Castello di Amorosa in St. Helena, California?

Do you know your France from your Napa? If so, send me your guesses?